Shuttle driving mechanism for looms



July 6, 1954 w. WADE 2,682,895

SHUTTLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 3, 1951 m .32 5 ET 2 /0/za- M )2 4 0L 6L :8 f0 5/ 6 a; 4/ 48 g ig- 5 F 41 4,

4/ F 3 4 JE M 63 INVENTOR.

v WOR TH WADE 66 BY ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS WorthWade, Rosemont, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application November 3,1951, Serial No. 254,720

16 Claims.

This invention is concerned with a novel and improved system for drivingor throwing the shuttle back and forth across a loom.

It is an object of the present invention to make use of an explosivematerial to providethe propelling force for throwing the shuttle backand forth over the'lay or lathe of a weaving loom.

The use of such a prime mover for the shuttle has the advantages thatthe speed of travel of the shuttle through the shed may be increased andthe width of the fabric being woven on the loom may be increased overthe speeds and widths normally obtainable when using mechanical drivingforces for the shuttle. Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the drawing and the description thereofhereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention, s Figure 1 is afront view of a portion of the right end of the loom showing the shuttledriving system,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the system shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a. modification,

Figure 4 shows another modification,

Figure 5'is a section on line VV of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is an end view of a shuttle.

Figure 1 shows the lay or lathe 3 of a loom. This lay extends across theloom and provides the raceway for the shuttle 4. ,The invention isapplicable to looms having an independent lay for beating" up the fabricas well as to the most common type in which the lay is swung forward tobeat up the fabric; The lay and/or the shuttle raceway extends beneaththe warp in front of suitable harness comprising heddles for reversingalternate threads in the warp.

At each end'of' the lay 3, there is disposed above the lay ashuttle-receiving device or means comprising a chamber 5, a lateralsurface of which may be resiliently 'mounted I so as to be urged towardthe opposite surface or wall of the chamber to act as a shuttle check.In the embodiment shown, the back wall 6 may be resiliently urged by aspring I. A pair of arcuate shoes 8 may be disposed in the end of theshuttle-receiving chamber. They are mounted pivotally at 9 on a block I0and are urged toward each other by means of springs l 1. These shoesserve as final limiting bumpers as will be explained hereinbelow.

The block II] is provided with two longitudinal passages or slots l2 and13 which extend from the right end of the block as viewed in Fig. 1clear 2 to the left end of the block. A vertical passage 14 passesthrough the block and is symmetrically disposed with respect to theslots l2 and I3 but is narrower at the portion adjacent and between theslots as indicated in Fig. 5. A passage l5 interconnects the slots 12and I3 and extends from the passage [4 to the left end of the block asviewed in Fig. 1. This passage l5 constitutes the firing chamber and isless in width than the slots I2 and I3 but preferably the same width asthe portion of passage I4 extending between slots l2 and [3.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the nose of the shuttle has a sectionwhich is complementary to the discharge opening of the firing chamber H5in the left end of block I0. This comprises a central rectangular orsquare portion [5a which is joined to an upper flat strip lZa and alower strip Kid. The upper and lower strips Ma and I 3a project endwiseof the shuttle beyond the intermediate portion l5a as indicated in Fig.1 so that strips l2a and 13a can pass through the slots l2 and i3 beyondthe passage M before the front end [5a reaches the passage M. Thefrontal edges of the strips l2a and I 3a may be rounded at their edgesto facilitate their guidance into the slots l2 and I3 at the end of theshuttle travel.

Means is provided for feeding successive charges of explosive one at atime into the passage M and in alignment with chamber [5 where it isadapted to be hit by the face l5a of the nose of the shuttle. The faceI511 and the back wall Ilia of the passage M which is in alignment withthe passage l5 may be provided with one or more sharp projections I6. Acasing I? has an axle l8 upon which there is supported a wound packageof a tape l9 comprising regularly spaced explosive charges 20 thereon,each of which may comprise a main body 20a of dynamite or nitrocellulosegrains, preferably of the smokeless and/or fiashless powder type and asmall body 2% of a percussion primer of a composition such as iscommonly used in the cartridges of guns or rifles. The casing I! may besupported on the lay by means of a suitable arm or bracket. The tape [9extends into the nip between a pair of feeding cylinders 2i mounted onshafts 22 by which they are driven in the direction of the arrows. Theperipheries of the cylinders 2| may be recessed at intervals as at '23to provide mating pockets into which an explosive charge may bereceived. This enables feeding of the tape without exertion of unduepressure on the explosive charges.

The shafts 22 have keyed thereon a pair of intermeshing gears 24 and oneof the shafts has keyed thereon a sprocket 25 driven by a chain 26 whichis in turn driven by a sprocket 21 fixedly secured to the output elementof a one-way clutch 28 which is mounted on the shaft 29 to which a gear30 is keyed. The gear 30 meshes with the rack teeth' 3| of a rack bar 32which is slidably supported in a guideway 33 of a stationary element 34which may be secured to the lay 3. A spring 35 is secured to a lug 36 onthe rack bar 32 and to a stationary point such as on the member 34 forthe purpose of urging the rack bar. toward the left as viewed in Fig. 1in which position it extends through theslot I2 to-a' position in theblock well beyond the passage 14.- However, as shown in Fig. especially,rack bar 32 is displaced aside of slot 12. so that it is out.

of alignment with slot [4 and offset from chamber l5. The one-way clutchpermits the gear 33' to be rotated both ways by the rack 3! buttransmits the motion of the gear 30 to the sprocket 2.7 only when thegear 30 is rotating in.a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Any ofthe..con ventional one-way clutches may be used for this purpose.

Inoperation of the embodiment of Fig. 1, the shuttle is thrown back andforth fromonesideof the loom to the other by the explosive charges setoff on each side thereof. The. shuttle,. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, isin a position where-it has almost reached the end of its travel to theright. At the position shown, it is being slowed down by the shuttlecheck. As it proceeds to the right, the strips 12a and I311. cutoff thetape. IS on each side of the charge 20. As the shuttle proceeds, theupper strip [2a pushes therack bar 32 to the right but,.as explained.hereinabovathe motion in this direction merely turns gear 3.5 withoutturning the sprocket.2.'| because of' the one-way clutch 28.Finally,.the face l5'a of the shuttlestrikes the explosive charge. andcauses its explosion. It should be noted thatatthistime, the chargeis.confined.within. a closedcham'ber since the slots 12 and I3.areclosed'bythe. strips l 2a.and l3a and the face I5aofltheshuttl'ecloses the passage I5. The projections [.6 assist incletonating thecharge.

The shoes 8 are disposed so that the shoulders of. the shuttle bearagainstthemand press them against the springs ll just before. the. face[5a strikes the explosive charge. They are so disposed that they do notabsorb. theforward mo.- tion of the shuttle to such an extent as toprevent the impact of the shuttle from exploding the charge. As pointedout hereinabove, the'charge is preferably of the smokeless variety andit is also desirable that it be of the flashless variety. A muflier orsilencer may be provided at each end of the loom. and if a charge isused which is not of the smokeless variety, an exhaust hoodorasuction.duct may be providedin the vicinity of the block NJ. towithdraw the fumes below.

As the shuttle is thrown to the left by the explosive charge, thespring35 returnsthe rack bar 32 and the teeth 3| rotate the gear 30 and.this motion is transmitted by the one-way clutch 28. to the sprocket 2"!which drives the chain 26 and in turn the sprocket for driving the gears24 and the charge feeding cylinders 2|. The

number of teeth on the rack 32 is'correlated to. the size of the gearand the sprockets '21 and 25..so as to rotate the cylinders 2| adistance which serves to feed the next charge into the passage I4 inalignment with the chamber 15. The entrance of the passage 14 and itsbottom exit is preferably made wide so that the tape carrying theexplosive charges will descend by gravity without interference betweenthe charges thereon and the walls of the block l0. Both the entrance andexits of the passage [4 at the top and bottom respectively arepreferably made large to-rapidly dissipatethe'gas developed by theexplosion and released when strips I20. and 13a. pass to the left beyondthe passage l4. While the strips [20, and I3a may project beyond theface l5a the same distance, it may be desirable to have the-strip l-3aconsiderably shorter as shown so that the lower end of the passage I4 isexposed before. thez-upperend as the shuttle is thrown to the leftas'viewed': in Fig. 1 so that the gas pressure i's largelyrelievedbefore the upper strip I2a exposes .the entrance of the passage I 4.This red-uces the upward blast of gas through the entrance. I4sufficiently so that the tape of charges is not greatly disturbed orblown out of the entrance [4. Itshould be'notedfithat the rack teeth 3!donot begin to engagegean30 when. the rack bar 32 is travellingto theleft until strip l-2a has opened the entrance of passage [4. to theexplosive chamber.

Fig. 3 shows-a modification inwhich a firing pin 40 is providedforstriking the explosive charge approximately when. the face l5a of theshuttle has reached-the end oft-itsrtravel. In this embodiment, the.strip I3a is-provided: with an extension 13b whichv engages areciprocable rod 4| disposedin the slot 13 at ther-ightendthereof asviewed-in Fig. 2. The rod.4'l.is=pivotally connected-to a lever 42 whichispivotally mounted on a fixed member at 43-andis urged inacounterclockwise direction by aspring. 44. The-upper end of the lever 42carries a pawl 45 adapted to engage the teeth 45 of a ratchet 4Jw-hich-is keyed to a shaft 48. A check-pawl 49 pivotally mounted at 50is urged by a spring 51- to: engage behind the teeth 46. of the ratchet.so.- as to-prevent return motion of the ratchet. Another ratchet 52 iskeyedto the-shaft- 48. Ratchet 5-2. hasteeth 53 spaced at intervalsaround its periphery which are adapted to engagealug secured to the pin40. The pin 40 carries acollar 55-fixed1y secured thereon anda spring5.6-bears againsta ring or washer 51 secured in the recess 58 andagainst the collar 55 so as to-normally urge the pin- 40 to the left tothe-position shown. When the shuttle approaches the. explosive charge,the-projection 13b pushes the rodll which rotatesithe ratchet 4 1a-quarter of a revolution, thereby rotating ratchet 52 acorrespondingamount. Because. of rotation of ratchet 52, av tooth53thereof pushes-the lug 54 on.- pin Mitotheright. After such pinisretracted, the tooth 53 passes beneath the lug 54 and releasesitwhereupon-the spring .56 urgesthe pin 40 into the firing position.Preferably, the projection. 13b is disposedto one-.side of: the slot 13so that. it is. offset from. the passage [4 and below the rack rod- 32.(seeFig. 5)..

In.the embodimentof Fig. 3.- the-shuttle not only serves tofeedthenextcharge after a. given explosive charge throws it to theleft,bu.t,.as it proceeds to theend of its throw and before the explosivecharge is set.off,.it actuates mechanismfor striking theexplosivechargewith afiring pin substantially at the end. of. the.stroke of the shuttle.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment wherein the shuttle 4a is of; standard typeand it cooperates with a reciprocable. catapult or carriage 60, the rearend of. which mayv be..provided witha recess 5.!

which is complementary. to. theend 41). of. the.

shuttle. provided with a nose 62 shaped like the nose of the shuttle 4in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 3. The catapult or carriage 60 may beslidably mounted on the floor 65 of its raceway at the end of the lay ofthe loom or it may be provided with wheels 63. One Or more bumpers 64provided with springs 6 5 may be provided for absorbing the impact ofthe carriage 60 when, after an explosion, it approaches the end of thecatapult race 65. The firing structure and explosive feeding structurein this embodiment may be identical to that of Fig. 1 or to that of Fig.2.

As pointed out hereinabove, the present invention provides for thespeeding up of the shuttle motion by utilizing an explosive charge. Thishas the advantages of making it possible to use wider looms and also toincrease the speed of operation of looms.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a supply of explosive charges; means forsuccessively positioning the charges adjacent one extremity of theshuttle path; means for firing one of the charges as the shuttleapproaches the one extremity of its path; and means for directing theexplosive force of the charge so as to drive the shuttle across theloom.

2. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a supply of explosive charges; means forsuccessively positioning the charges adjacent one extremity of theshuttle path; means for firing one of the charges as the shuttleapproaches the one extremity of its path; and means for transmitting theexplosive force of the charge to the shuttle to drive it to the otherside of the loom.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which the charge positioningmeans comprises means actuated by the motion of the shuttle as itapproaches the said extremity of its path.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which the firing meanscomprises a movable firing element actuated by the motion of the shuttleas it approaches thesaid extremity of its path.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 in which the firing meanscomprises a firing pin which is actuated by the motion of the shuttle asit approaches the said extremity of its path.

6. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a firing chamber having an opening which isarranged to receive the shuttle as it approaches one extremity of itspath; a supply of explosive charges; means for successively positioningthe charges in the chamber; means for firing one of the charges bypercussion as the shuttle approaches the one extremity of its path; andmeans for directing the explosive force of the charge so as to drive theshuttle across the loom to the other extremity of its path.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 in which the charge-positioningmeans comprises means actuated by the motion of the shuttle as itapproaches the one extremity of its path.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6 in which the firing meanscomprises a firing pin The forward end of the catapult 60 is '6 actuatedby the motion of the shuttle as it approaches the one extremity of itspath.

9. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a firing block having an opening and a chamberformed therein and arranged to receive the shuttle as it approaches oneextremity of its path, said block also having a pair of passages whichextend substantially parallel to the opening through the entire lengthof the block; a supply of explosive charges; means including a passagetransverse to the length of the block communicating with the chamber forsuccessively positioning the charges therein; and means for firing oneof the charges by percussion as the shuttle approaches the one extremityof its path, the leading extremity of the shuttle having a pair ofelongated projections which extend outwardly and longitudinallytherefrom and which are arranged to slidably cooperate with the saidpair of passages in the block to close of! the said transverse passagesduring the actuation of the firing means. i

10. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a firing block having an opening and a chamberformed therein and arranged to receive the shuttle as it approaches oneextremity of its path, said block also having a passage which extendsalong one side of the opening and the chamber through the entire lengthof the block; a supply of explosive charges; a reciprocable memberpositioned in said passage; means connected to the reciprocable memberfor successively positioning the charges in the firing chamber; and anelement projecting from the leading end of the shuttle for slidablyengaging the said passage and actuating the reciprocable member.

11. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a firing block having an opening and a chamberformed therein and arranged to receive the shuttle as it approaches oneextremity of its path, said block also having a passage which extendsalong one side of the opening and the chamber through the entire lengthof the block; a supply of explosive charges; means for successivelypositioning the charges in the chamber; a reciprocable member positionedin the said passage; a firing pin movable into and out of the chamber;means connected to the reciprocable member for actuating the firing pin;and an element projecting from the leading end of the shuttle forslidably engaging the said passage and actuating the reciprocablemember.

12. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a firing block having an opening and a chamberformed therein and arranged to receive the shuttle as it approaches oneextremity of its path, said block also having a pair of passages whichextend along opposite sides of the opening and the chamber through theentire length of the block; a supply of explosive charges; meansincluding a passage transverse to the length of the block communicatingwith the chamber for successively positioning the charges therein; a reciprocable member positioned in one of the said pair of passages; meansengaged by said member for actuating the charge positioning means; afiring pin movable into and out of the chamber; a second reciprocablemember positioned in the other of said pair of passages; means connectedto the said second reciprocable member for actuatin the firing pin and apair of elements proaceaeee 7 j'eeting'- outwandly and longitudinallyfrom. the leading end: of the :shuttle which :slidably engage the: saidpair of passages and contact the said reci'procabl'e members positioned'therein.

.13; A system for-drivinga shuttle in a path acrossthe width of aloom'comprising, a shuttle; a-raceway positioned adjacent one extremityof the'path; a reciprocablecar-riage which is positioned: on theraceway, one-extremity, of the carriagexbeing arranged to receive'theleading edge of theshuttle-aslit approaches-the said extremity of. itspath; a firing block having an=opening and a chamber formed therein andarranged to receive the opposite extremity of the carriage; a supplyofexplosive charges; means forsuccessively positioning the charges in thechamber; meansfor firing one of thecharges by percussion Whenthe shuttleengages the one extremity of the carriage and approaches the saidextremity oftitsp'at-h; and means for-directing the explosive forceofthe charge soas to drive the shuttle across the loom.

14. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of aloomcomprising a shuttle; a. raceway positioned adjacent one: extremity of.the path; a reciprocable carriage'which is positioned on the raceway,one extremity of the carriage being arranged to receive the'leadingextremity of the shuttle as it approaches the said extremity of itspath; a firing block having an opening and archamber formed therein andarranged to receive the opposite extremity of the carriage, said blockalso having a passage which extends along one side of the openingqandthe chamber through the entire length of the block; a reciprocablemember positioned in the said passage; a supply -of explosive charges;means connected to the reciprocable member for successively positioning.theecharges 'in the chamber; and an element projecting outwardly andlongitudinally from the leading end of the car'- riage for engaging thereciprocable member as the shuttle approaches the said extremity of itspath.

15. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the widthof a loomcomprisin a shuttle; a raceway positioned adjacent one extremity of thepath; a reciprocable carriage which is positioned on the raceway,,one'extremity of thezcarria-ge: being arranged to receive theleadingrend of the shuttle-as it approaches thersaidextremity of itspath; a firing block having an opening and a chamber formed therein andarranged to receive-the opposite extremity of the carriage; said blockalso having a passage Which' extends along one side of t-heopening andthechamber through the, entire length. of the block; av supply ofexplosive charges; means for'successively positionin the charges in thechamber; areciprocable member positioned in the said. passage; a firingpin movable intoand out of the chamber; means connected to thereciprocable member for actuating the firing pin: and an elementprojecting from the leading end of the-carriage'Whichslid ably engagesthe said-v passage and actuates' the reciprocable member.

16. A system for driving a shuttle in a path across the width of a loomcomprising a shuttle; a raceway positioned adjacent, one extremity ofthe path; a reciprocable carriage which ispositioned on the raceway, oneextremity of the carriage being arranged to receive the leadingiend'ofthe shuttle as it approaches the said extremity of its path; a firingblock. having an opening'an'd a chamber formed therein andarran'ged toreceive the opposite extremity of the carriage, said block alsohaving apair of passages Which-extend along opposite sides of the opening andthe chamber and through the entire length of the block; a supply ofexplosive charges; a reciprocable mem ber positioned in one of the saidpair of passages; means connected to the said member for feeding one ofthe explosive charges. through a transverse passage in the block intothe chamber; a firing pin movable into andout of the chamber; a secondreciprocable member positioned in the other of. the said pair ofpassages; meangconnected to the second reciprocable member for actuatingthe firing pin; and a pair of elements projectin outwardly andlongitudinally from the leading end ofthe carriage for slidably engagingthe said pair of'passages and actuating the said reciprocable members.

No references cited.

